Info for trip around Southen africa

Carts

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Hi

I'm after a bit of info, I'm looking to do my own tour of Sothern Africa, shipping my bike into Cape Town August this year

One of the unknown is Tires to use, looking for people with experience of Africa, I'm not looking to go to far of pist, On past trips used TKC 80 and heidenau. What Im trying to understand if in need a50/50 tire or more road / off-road

I'm looking to do a loop anti clockwise Cape town up to Kenya then back via Zambia, Botswana & Namibia

I recon ruffle 12k miles, If Use TKC will be struggling to do whole trip, but happy to get new tires at halfway point somewhere

thoughts everest 2.jpg
 
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It all depends upon your specific route of course, but I suspect many of your miles will be on dirt/dust roads, when tend to be dry and usually quite heavily corrugated.

For those, you might need something less aggressive than a TKC. Absorbing the vibrations from the corrugations might be your top priority.
 
I did similar in 2022. Big question is whether you're planning on doing the dirt roads through Namibia - Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon etc etc. If you are, I wouldn't go for anything less off-road oriented than a TKC80 or Karoo 3/4. As you rightly say though, you haven't a chance of one set of those being enough for the trip. In fact, I was on my third set by the end.

BMW dealers are few and far between - Cape Town, Joburg, Pretoria and Windhoek yes. Beyond that I'm not so sure.

There are plenty of bods in villages willing and able to fit them but your challenge will be finding anywhere with tyres en-route without preordering them.

I just did 10,000 miles in South America. I wore out a set of Karoo Street and a set of TKC80s. Bod on a Tiger 900 managed on a single set of Motoz Tractionators. Another did 8,000 on set of Heidenau K60 Scouts (Africa Twin) and they still had some tread left. Depends on whether you like tyres that feel like concrete hoops or not I guess...
 
Thanks Richard, I did the Americas with Globusters, the TKC80 can last well it all depends on riding style if your gentle they will last if having fun less so. Looks like a plan will be to try to get a second set halfway round. Im happy to be gentle on tires and arrange a new set of tires half way if i can. ?
 
You’re definitely more gentle than me. I killed a set of TKC80s on the second part (Santiago - Patagonia) of Globebusters South America!

In Africa (also Globebusters) I part used a set of Anakee Adventures between Nairobi and Namibia; totally wore out a set of TKC80 between Namibia and Cape Town and part wore a set of Karoo 3 on the Garden Route section.

All of the sections that I found hard on tyres were heavily gravel oriented. The Anakee Adventures in the first Africa section and the Karoo Street on the top (Bogotá - Santiago) section weren’t dead when swapped out but they were inappropriate for what was to come.

As I said, in Africa our challenge will be locating tyres once you get beyond Windhoek.
 
I have edited your opening post, starting you a separate thread about your tent enquiry. That way it won’t get muddled up with chat about tyres and roads.

Info for trip around Southen africa

Hi I'm after a bit of info, I'm looking to do my own tour of Sothern Africa, shipping my bike into Cape Town August this year One of the unknown is Tires to use, looking for people with experience of Africa, I'm not looking to go to far of pist, On past trips used TKC 80 and heidenau. What...
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Richard
 
Cheers Richard

Ummm I like traveling light so don’t want to take spare tires. Will do some more searching to see if I can work out somewhere halfway I can get tires shipped then fitted.
 
The bike cover is a tip I’ve got from a few people, the idea of a stealth cloth if parking bike up.

taking the other idea from post about not camping. Having a stealth cloth may be useful outside hotels etc
 
Carts said:
The bike cover is a tip I’ve got from a few people, the idea of a stealth cloth if parking bike up.

taking the other idea from post about not camping. Having a stealth cloth may be useful outside hotels etc
Click to expand...
bike cover is a waste of time (and packing space). What do you think it will hide in a world where any bike other than a Chinese 125 is unusual, never mind a fully-laden behemoth?

Unless you've got an invisibility cloak, forget it.

To do Cape Town to Nairobi if your kit won't fit into a pair of 35 litre panniers and a (small) tank bag, you've got too much stuff and you'll regret it when it comes to the Namibian gravel roads.
 
I Richard, ill consider, in past trips ( with Globuster ) i have 2 x metal mule panniers and a tank bag i use for water bladder and anything on day. so i prefer to travel light

the bike cover I've heard lots of overlanded recommend? the idea is to keep little hand away. when did gutbuster most places they stay at have good parking so less of an issue
 
All the advice from people who have made the trip you are planning, is not to bother take a bike cover. Not taking one, saves you weight and space in your Metal Mule panniers or on your bike for something maybe more useful, like the replacement tyres. Or, simply not taking the cover (which everyone says you do not need) will help you work towards, travelling lighter.

You have been persuaded not to take a tent, which saves weight and space. Now get rid of the bike cover. More weight and space saved.


:beerjug:
 
I would go for something with a stiff sidewall and that is known to be fairly resistant to punctures. Heidenau K60 would be my choice for punctureproofness and longevity: the front will last the trip, rear maybe but you’ll be back in civilisation when you need a new one.

We rented 2xYamaha XT660 fitted with Mitas E07 tyres. Rental company said very very few punctures and they last ages. Check out DualSportSouthAfrica. Was a diddy company with 6 bikes when we went. Big business now.

The Pistes we went on in SA and Namibia were mostly well graded and hard packed, although Sandy patches and corrugations not unknown. It’s not at all like green laning in the uk. Mostly you can do 40mph or more sitting down. Stay alert! Botswana pistes were very Sandy and very hard work. We gave up with them.

Cover: don’t bother, there’s big bikes all over Southern Africa and therefore tyres and stuff readily available. it might be different further north though. Usual safety and security precautions though.
 
Carts said:
The bike cover is a tip I’ve got from a few people, the idea of a stealth cloth if parking bike up.

taking the other idea from post about not camping. Having a stealth cloth may be useful outside hotels etc
Click to expand...
I'd focus on where you park rather than use a cover. Everyone can guess what's under it.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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